Exodus 7:10
So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD had commanded. Aaron threw his staff down before Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a serpent.
So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh
Moses and Aaron's approach to Pharaoh marks a significant moment in the narrative of the Exodus. This act of obedience to God's command demonstrates their faith and courage, as Pharaoh was the most powerful ruler of the time. The setting is likely in one of the royal palaces in Egypt, a place of immense power and authority. This encounter is the beginning of a series of confrontations between God's representatives and the Egyptian king, highlighting the theme of divine authority versus human authority.

and did just as the LORD had commanded.
This phrase underscores the importance of obedience to God's instructions. Moses and Aaron's actions are in direct response to God's earlier command in Exodus 7:9. Their obedience is a model for faithfulness, showing that God's plans are fulfilled through human cooperation. This obedience is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, emphasizing that God's purposes are often accomplished through those who follow His commands.

Aaron threw his staff down before Pharaoh and his officials,
The act of throwing down the staff is symbolic and significant. In ancient Egypt, the staff was a symbol of authority and power. By throwing it down, Aaron is demonstrating the power of God over the Egyptian gods and Pharaoh's authority. This act is performed in the presence of Pharaoh's officials, indicating a public demonstration meant to challenge the Egyptian belief system and assert the supremacy of the God of Israel.

and it became a serpent.
The transformation of the staff into a serpent is a miraculous sign intended to demonstrate God's power. In Egyptian culture, serpents were associated with both danger and protection, often symbolizing the power of the Pharaoh himself. This miracle prefigures the plagues that will follow, each designed to challenge the gods of Egypt. The serpent can also be seen as a type of Christ, who would later defeat the serpent, Satan, as prophesied in Genesis 3:15. This act foreshadows the ultimate victory of God's power over evil.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The prophet and leader chosen by God to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. He acts in obedience to God's command.

2. Aaron
Moses' brother and spokesperson, who performs the miracle by throwing down his staff as instructed by God.

3. Pharaoh
The ruler of Egypt, representing opposition to God's will and the hardening of the heart against divine commands.

4. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant-keeping God of Israel, who demonstrates His power and authority over Egypt through signs and wonders.

5. The Serpent
The transformation of Aaron's staff into a serpent is a sign of God's power and a challenge to the Egyptian magicians and their gods.
Teaching Points
Obedience to God's Command
Moses and Aaron's actions demonstrate the importance of following God's instructions precisely, even when facing powerful opposition.

God's Sovereignty and Power
The transformation of the staff into a serpent illustrates God's supreme power over creation and His ability to perform miracles.

Confronting Opposition with Faith
Believers are called to stand firm in their faith and trust in God's power when facing challenges and opposition.

Symbolism of the Serpent
In the biblical context, the serpent can symbolize both danger and wisdom. Understanding its role in this passage can deepen our insight into God's message.

Role of Signs and Wonders
This event shows how God uses signs to communicate His will and demonstrate His authority, encouraging believers to recognize and respond to God's work in their lives.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the obedience of Moses and Aaron in this passage challenge us in our daily walk with God?

2. In what ways does the transformation of the staff into a serpent demonstrate God's power and authority? How can this encourage us in our faith?

3. What can we learn from the role of Pharaoh in this account about the dangers of hardening our hearts against God's commands?

4. How does the symbolism of the serpent in this passage connect to other biblical references to serpents, and what lessons can we draw from these connections?

5. How can we apply the lessons of faith and obedience from this passage to situations where we face opposition or challenges in our own lives?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 4:2-4
This passage describes God's initial instruction to Moses about the staff turning into a serpent, establishing the sign's significance.

Numbers 20:8-12
This passage highlights another instance where Moses and Aaron are instructed to use a staff, emphasizing obedience to God's specific commands.

Matthew 10:16
Jesus instructs His disciples to be "wise as serpents," which can be seen as a call to discernment and wisdom in the face of opposition, similar to Moses and Aaron's situation.
The Great ConflictH.T. Robjohns Exodus 7:1-25
The Lord, He is GodG.A. Goodhart Exodus 7:1-25
The Credentials of God's Ambassadors to the FrowardJ. Urquhart Exodus 7:8-13
The First Sign to Pharaoh: the Rod Becomes a SerpentD. Young Exodus 7:8-13
The Rod Turned into a SerpentJ. Orr Exodus 7:8-14
People
Aaron, Egyptians, Israelites, Moses, Pharaoh
Places
Egypt, Nile River
Topics
Aaron, Becometh, Bondmen, Cast, Casteth, Commanded, Front, Monster, Officials, Pharaoh, Rod, Serpent, Servants, Snake, Staff, Threw, Thus
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Exodus 7:8-12

     1449   signs, purposes

Exodus 7:8-24

     5593   trial

Exodus 7:9-13

     4687   snake

Library
The History of the Prophetic Sermons, Epistles, and Apocalypses
[Sidenote: Real character and aims of the prophets] To understand and rightly interpret the prophetic writings of the Old Testament it is necessary to cast aside a false impression as to the character of the prophets which is widely prevalent. They were not foretellers, but forth-tellers. Instead of being vague dreamers, in imagination living far in the distant future, they were most emphatically men of their own times, enlightened and devoted patriots, social and ethical reformers, and spiritual
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament

Letter Lxxxv. To Paulinus.
Paulinus had asked Jerome two questions, (1) how can certain passages of scripture (Exod. vii. 13; Rom. ix. 16) be reconciled with Free Will? and (2) Why are the children of believers said to be holy (1 Cor. vii. 14) apart from baptismal grace? For the first of these questions Jerome refers Paulinus to his version (newly made) of Origen's treatise, On First Principles. For the second he quotes the explanation of Tertullian. Written in 400 a.d. 1. Your words urge me to write to you but your eloquence
St. Jerome—The Principal Works of St. Jerome

The Hardening in the Sacred Scripture.
"He hath hardened their heart."-- John xii. 40. The Scripture teaches positively that the hardening and "darkening of their foolish heart" is a divine, intentional act. This is plainly evident from God's charge to Moses concerning the king of Egypt: "Thou shalt speak all that I command thee; and I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply My signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh shall not harken unto you, and I will lay My hand upon Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity Paul's Care and Prayer for the Church.
Text: Ephesians 3, 13-21. 13. Wherefore I ask that ye may not faint at my tribulations for you, which are your glory. 14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 and that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man; 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be strong
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III

Exposition of Chap. Iii. (ii. 28-32. )
Ver. 1. "And it shall come to pass, afterwards, I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions." The communication of the Spirit of God was the constant prerogative of the Covenant-people. Indeed, the very idea of such a people necessarily requires it. For the Spirit of God is the only inward bond betwixt Him and that which is created; a Covenant-people, therefore, without such an inward
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Exodus
The book of Exodus--so named in the Greek version from the march of Israel out of Egypt--opens upon a scene of oppression very different from the prosperity and triumph in which Genesis had closed. Israel is being cruelly crushed by the new dynasty which has arisen in Egypt (i.) and the story of the book is the story of her redemption. Ultimately it is Israel's God that is her redeemer, but He operates largely by human means; and the first step is the preparation of a deliverer, Moses, whose parentage,
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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